Base-ball-batting apparatus.



No. 831,605. PATBN'TED SEPT. 25. 1906.

J. F. DOYLE. I BASE BALL BATTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 1905.

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BASE-BALL-BATTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed September 6, 1905. Serial No. 277,225.

To CLZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. DOYLE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Base-Ball-Batting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a base-ball-batting apparatus, and has for its object to provide novel means for affording practice in batting a ball; and it consists in an arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing a perspective view of the apparatus is shown.

Referring specifically to the drawing, A represents a rope or cord which runs through rings or pulleys a and 1), respectively fastened to a ceiling or other overhead support. One end of the rope carries a ball F, and the other end is wound around and made fast to a cleat E, which enables the ball to be raised and lowered to practice high and low balls. The ball is made of rubber or leather and is formed with a central opening through which the rope passes, and above and below the ball are knots or washers 0, between which the ball slides. Below the lower knot c the rope A is provided with a ring f, to which an elastic cord B is fastened. The free ends of the cord B are carried rearwardly from the ball at right angles and about forty five degrees and are then attached to the floor by suitable fasteners C. If desired, the cords B may be held to the floor by weights, so that they may be shifted at will. The elastic cord is for the purpose of drawing the ball back after it has been struck with the bat.

The operation of the apparatus will be obvious from the foregoing description. The ball will be placed at the desired elevation by adjustment of the rope A, and upon being struck by the bat it flies outwardly. The elastic cord B is left slack to allow the ball a long swing before it is drawn back. Upon the return of the ball it is again struck, and so on. When the ball is driven out to the left, the right-hand part of the cord B is drawn tight, which draws the ball back, describing an incurve. If the ball is batted to the right, the left-hand part of the cord B is drawn tight and the ball comes back an outcurve. The dropcurve is provided by the natural fall of the ball on the cord A between the knots c. The raise is had by the batter stepping back and letting the ball pass the perpendicular.

This apparatus is designed to be for the base-ball player what the punching-bag is for the boner, and by its use the eyesight will be quickened in judging the various curves and shoots used by pitchers. It will also make a batter hit hard, short, and accurate and tend to create self-confidence.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A practice apparatus of the kind stated, comprising a ball, a suspension-cord extending upwardly therefrom, an elastic returncord which is connected between its ends to the suspension-cord and the ends of which extend laterally therefrom in opposite directions, and fixtures to which said ends are fastened.

2. A practice apparatus of the kind stated, comprising a suspensioncord, fixtures located at a distance on opposite sides of the suspensioncord, and an elastic return-cord fastened at its ends to the fixtures and having a connection between its ends with the suspension-cord, and a ball slidably mounted on the suspensioncord.

3. A practice apparatus of the kind stated, comprising a suspension-cord provided with stops, a ball sliding on the cord between said stops, and elastic fastening means for the lower end of the cord.

4. A practice apparatus of the kind stated, comprising a suspension-cord, a ball mounted thereon, and an elastic cord fastened to the suspension-cord, said elastic cord being normally slack and fastened at its ends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. DOYLE. Witnesses:

SIGNA FnLTsKoG, H. G. BATCHELOR. 

